Police: Shoplifter runs after caught stealing 23 purses, returns to store seconds later to steal again

SEATTLE — A woman attempting to steal dozens of designer handbags and purses baffled police when she allegedly was caught, ran out the store and walked right in another entrance and tried to steal a stack of different items. .

According to the Seattle Police Department, officers were called at 12:30 p.m. Aug. 17 to a department store — most likely Macy’s — near the intersection of Pine Street and 3rd Avenue with reports of a robbery.

Once on scene, police contacted three store loss prevention officers, who said they spotted a woman attempting to walk out of the with 23 purses and handbags. One of the prevention officers stopped her, police said, but the woman allegedly pushed forward and tried to run out of the door with the stolen goods.

Prevention officers tried to hold her down, but she dropped the merchandise and ran out. Not to be deterred, however, she allegedly ran around to the south side of the store, entered a different door, and grabbed another handful of goods, police said. She then allegedly walked to the very same doors she tried to escape from moments before and attempted to walk out.

She was again stopped by prevention officers, who grabbed her and handcuffed her until police could arrive.

Police estimated the woman attempted to steal 31 handbags in all. They believe she may have entered the store with two addtiional items stolen from the store at an earlier date.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of theft and taken to the King County Jail.